A Golden Hodgepodge

Got leaves? We chased down some golden hues of Autumn this past Saturday.

And just like that it’s the last Hodgepodge of October. Thank you, Joyce!

1. What most recently gave you goose bumps? 

There have been a few nights in the last couple of weeks that our night sky has put on an amazing show of stars. With no street lights or big city close by we enjoy stars in such an amazing display it will give you goose bumps. I could never be able to capture the sight in a photo.

‘In the stars His handiwork I see’, did any of you sing that song in the late sixties or early seventies?

The stars, a glorious sunrise or sunset turns my mind to their creator, the one true God.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. Psalm 19:1-2

And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. Daniel 12:3

Who are these like stars ap­pear­ing,
These be­fore God’s throne who stand?
Each a gold­en crown is wear­ing;
Who are all this glo­ri­ous band?
Alleluia! Hark, they sing,
Praising loud their heav’n­ly king.

2. What does Halloween look like in your home and/or neighborhood these days? Do you participate? 

These days the only trick or treaters we get are our favorites, our Grands. We live in the country on a road that does not have lights and where there are acres between homes. That is not conducive to having trick or treaters. We get special treats for our Grands and always love to see their creative costumes.

Our church has a very popular Harvest Festival with Trunk or Treating and we have had up to 1500 from our community come to enjoy the creative trunk or treats, the smores, hot chocolate and indoor bouncy houses. Our church membership donate up to 500 pounds of candy for this event. We always include a handout with a clear presentation of the Gospel.

3. Pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, poppy, chia…your favorite seed on the list? What’s something you like to make/eat that calls for one of these seeds in the recipe? 

I have been a fan of good sunflower seeds (semechki) since my childhood. Growing up we would stop by the seed man after ‘Big Church’ in Boyle Heights (Los Angeles) to buy packets of ‘plain’ sunflower seeds that came in brown paper packets and pumpkin seeds that came in clearer paper packets.

Boyle Heights — Tucked into a small red box of a building on Lorena Street, A&Z Nut Wagon had been a local source for all sorts of treats, from nuts, of course, to jerky. But after several decades in business, A&Z Nut Wagon closed up for good at the end of February.

There is nothing in my regular repertoire of cooking that calls for seeds.

4. What’s the most (or one of the most) ‘fall photos’ you’ve ever taken? Share it here. Just one. 

I’ll choose this one from 2012 for the color and for the memories. This was taken on a hike on our son’s first property in Chewelah, Washington. Our hike in the Fall afforded us the first views ever of Larch/Tamarack trees and the all encompassing gold this time of year. Little did we know then that we would be moving to this county in 6 years time.

5. Somehow we’re rolling in to November next week. If your October were a chapter in a book, what would the title of this chapter be? 

Twelve Celebrating in a Tropical Paradise

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

After Addy’s first basketball game of the season on Saturday, Greg and I chased down some October Gold. We drove south to Chewelah for lunch and enjoyed the golden treats along the way.

Looking Up and Back

On Tuesday November 11th I was able to capture some of the colorful night sky with my phone camera.

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.” Psalm 19:1-2

During this past week we got some photos of our loved ones via text. I am so grateful this kind of communication is available at our fingertips.

Addy getting a kick out of herself and her Skyjo skills! She was “getting ready for her victory dance”.

Katie and Laura on the other side of the mountains at ‘nail time’ that they enjoy together. Our westside beauties!

Woohoo! Look at who is Clubber of the month. Great job, Addy, memorizing all your verses! Baba and Gramps are thankful you enjoy learning about our God and Savior and storing up Scripture for your heart and mind.

Leaving off with a beautiful sunset viewed through the window at Addy’s Irish Dance studio on Thursday the 13th.

What are some of your ‘thankfuls’ this time of year?

God’s Amazing Handiwork

On May 10th I stayed up late to see if I could see the Northern Lights which were predicted to be visible in our area and many other areas around the world. I looked up and could tell there was something different happening but no color was visible to the naked eye. When I saw other people posting on Facebook the pinks and greens in color I was confused as to why I couldn’t see the same thing. When I looked at the image of the sky I just had snapped on my phone I could see the colors in the sky. How odd that was. I just kept snapping away and here is what my phone captured.

 

At the end of my time on our deck taking photos, these lights below which were more on the horizon and not looking straight up, were visible to my naked eye.

It was amazing to witness and a bucket list item that I could check off my list.

In the stars His handiwork I see…

“The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to Day pours forth speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.”

Psalm 19:1,2

We are running out of May days. Over the weekend some of our kids and nieces and nephews were together in Arizona for their annual ‘Cousins Memorial Day Weekend’. On Monday our flag pole was taken out of it’s Winter storage and back in it’s worthy spot in our front acres. Long may the Red, White and Blue wave!

We have lots of pretty color popping up along with so many weeds that we have not kept at bay. I’ll share some of those colors, soon. What’s popping up at your place?